Alchemy of a Rainforest
Explore a vibrant tapestry of life! Step inside this immersive, sensory exhibition featuring spectacular rare and unusual tropical and subtropical rainforest plants.

Daily (refer below for closures)
10am – 4pm
Entry by donation
Where nature's brilliance and human creativity converge
Here, amidst a lush, layered canopy, you'll experience the intricate beauty and complexity of the rainforest like never before.
Alchemy of a Rainforest is more than an exhibition; it's an immersive journey that envelops you in the vibrant, living essence of one of the Earth's most valuable ecosystems.
As you enter, look up and be captivated by a shimmering, undulating canopy reimagined with recycled materials by ERTH. Walking through, you’ll feel enveloped by nature, as if you’ve been transported to the heart of the forest.
Throughout the space, garden sculptures by environmental artist Jane Gillings add vibrant pops of colour and texture. Crafted from repurposed plastic waste, these intricate pieces depict seeds, flowers, branches, fungi, and butterflies, highlighting the rainforest’s role as an ecological powerhouse that sustains diverse life forms.
A highlight of the exhibition is the oversized Satin Bowerbird’s bower, crafted from upcycled materials. This stunning installation invites you to walk through, sit, and be surrounded by the hum of rainforest sound art, transporting you to a tropical forest teeming with life.
Curated by the horticultural team at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Alchemy of a Rainforest has over 18,000 plants on display and one of the largest living green walls in the Southern Hemisphere.
Join us in this immersive journey, where art, nature, and innovation come together to create an experience that is both spectacular and profoundly meaningful.
The Calyx’s kiosk, the Leaf Department, is open 8am–4pm every day. Visit for great coffee and juices, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, sweet treats and snacks.

Closures
The Calyx is a public exhibition space, however it is also available to hire for private events. On occasion, The Calyx will be closed to facilitate these private events. It may also be closed in cases of extreme heat. Please see closure dates below. We apologise for any inconvenience.
- Thursday 25 September: exhibition and cafe closed
- Saturday 27 September: exhibition and cafe closed from 3pm
- Friday 3 October: exhibition and cafe closed
- Saturday 4 October: exhibition and cafe closed from 2pm
- Thursday 9 October: exhibition and cafe closed
- Friday 10 October: exhibition closed until 12pm, cafe open
- Saturday 11 October: exhibition and cafe closed from 2pm
- Sunday 12 October: exhibition closed, cafe open for takeaway only
- Monday 13 October: exhibition and cafe closed
- Thursday 16 October: exhibition and cafe closed
- Saturday 18 October: exhibition closed, cafe open until 2pm
- Wednesday 22 October: exhibition and cafe closed from 3pm
- Thursday 23 October: exhibition and cafe closed
- Friday 24 October: exhibition and cafe closed
- Sunday 26 October: exhibition and cafe closed from 3pm
- Wednesday 29 October: exhibition and cafe closed
- Sunday 2 November: exhibition and cafe closed
- Monday 3 November: exhibition and cafe closed
- Tuesday 4 November: exhibition closed, cafe open for takeaway only
- Wednesday 5 November: exhibition closed, cafe open for takeaway only
- Thursday 6 November: exhibition closed, cafe open for takeaway only
- Saturday 8 November: exhibition and cafe closed
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